Sun, sea, shopping, roaring nightlife, the world's tallest building, seven-star resort hotels and sprawling championship golf courses...these all come to mind when thinking about Dubai, the newest and most luxurious hotspot for business and leisure. But what lurks behind this glitzy glamour-town? Raymond Barrett investigates, and finds some fascinating results. Incredibly topical, Dubai Dreams is a must-read for anyone seeking a journey to the 'Las Vegas of the East' themselves, or those interested in seeing the truth behind all the bling. Far from being solely a "billionaire's paradise," Barrett discovers the myriad of other people who live in, work in, and visit Dubai, each revealing a new facet of the Arabian city-state. Dubai boasts not only the world's largest man-made island, but also a extraordinarily varied population, consisting of expatriates from all over the world -- India, China, England, the Philippines -- Barrett explores the city, leading the reader to discover what lies below the gleaming skyline, not just malls and sport courts, but also mosques and temples, courthouses and speakeasies - making it the first book to look behind the scenes at Dubai as a whole, in terms of life, business and culture.